Fetal development 23 weeks of pregnancy • hello healthy

Has your pregnancy reached 23-27 weeks? This means that you have entered the 6 months pregnant phase in the 2nd trimester.In this phase, the stomach is getting bigger, the fetal movement is more pronounced, and stretch marks started to appear. Besides that, what happens in the 6 months pregnant phase? Here's the explanation.

6 months pregnant

There is no nausea during the 6 months of pregnancy, so you can be more comfortable with the condition and your enlarged stomach. But even if there is no nausea, pregnant women will feel some changes in the body to support fetal development.

The following is the full explanation.

23 weeks pregnant: the fetus can already hiccup

At 6 months pregnant, at 23 weeks to be precise, the baby is about the size of a mango. Then the fetus weighs about 453 grams with a length of 27.9 cm.

At this gestational age, the fat layer has begun in the fetus's body.

In addition, babies will also more often "exercise" in the stomach such as moving their fingers, toes, arms, and legs. So, don't be surprised if you will feel the fetal movement more often from the belly.

It is also possible that the baby will be born prematurely at 23 weeks of gestation. When premature babies are born this week, they can generally survive with intense medical care from doctors.

However, it is also possible for the baby to have mild to severe birth defects if the baby is born at 23 weeks of gestation.

Not only that, quoting from the Mayo Clinic, at 23 weeks pregnant, the fetus has started hiccupping due to sudden movements. You can feel the beat when you rub your stomach.

24 weeks of pregnancy: fetal ears are getting perfect

At 24 weeks pregnant the baby in your stomach is about the size of a corn. Baby is almost 30 cm long and weighs about 113 grams compared to last week.

Fetal lungs are increasingly developing at 6 months of pregnancy, to be precise at 24 weeks of age.

Indeed, as long as the development of the fetus is still in the stomach, the baby still receives oxygen through the placenta, including at 24 weeks of gestation. However, after birth, his lungs will start to activate and automatically fill with oxygen.

So that the lungs can immediately function, while in the uterus the organ will start producing surfactant substances.

Surfactants are substances that prevent leakage of the air sacs in the lungs and protect them when exhaling.

Apart from the lungs, the fetus's sense of hearing is also growing at this time. The inner ear organs are getting perfect so that your little one's balancing ability is also getting better.

This allows him to know where he is in the uterus at that time, whether it is upside down or upright.

25 weeks of pregnancy: the fetus is ready to talk

At 6 months pregnant, to be precise at 25 weeks of pregnancy, the baby in the womb may already be the size of a turnip vegetable. Approximately the length is about 37.6 cm with a weight of 680 grams.

Pregnant women may have noticed when their little one's schedule is resting and active while they are in the womb.

If you want to feel more of the fetal movements at this gestational age, do it in silence and do not do any activity. This method makes you more focused on feeling the fetal movement.

When your little one starts to move, mom can also talk to him. The reason is, quoting from the Mayo Clinic, at 25 weeks of gestation, fetal hearing is experiencing rapid development and can already hear the mother's voice.

26 weeks pregnant: fetal eyes begin to blink

Entering the 26th week of pregnancy, the development of the fetal body is as long as the leek. Approximately, the length of the fetus from head to toe is about 39 cm and weighs 750 grams.

The fetus's eyes begin to open and blink at this 6 month pregnant period. Even so, you can only find out what color a baby's eyes are when he is born.

The color of your baby's eyes will depend on the race or ethnicity of the offspring. Some babies will be born with blue or gray eyes that can turn brown or dark in the first year of life.

The lashes and hair on the head also start to grow at this gestational age.

27 weeks pregnant: the fetus can recognize the voices of the mother and father

Previously the baby was about the size of a leek, now he is bigger. The development of the baby's body at week 27 of pregnancy is about the size of a cauliflower.

Normally the fetus weighs about 900 grams with a body length of about 36.8 cm.

At 6 months pregnant, the fetus's face has begun to look clear and will remain the same until the time of birth.

Even so, the physical development of the fetus at week 27 of pregnancy is not yet perfect. The lungs, liver, and immune system still need time to develop completely.

Entering the 27th week of pregnancy, the fetus can begin to hear and recognize the voices of you and your partner.

However, the sounds that babies hear are still muffled because their ears are still covered in a thick layer of wax called vernix caseosa.

What you feel when you are 6 months pregnant

At 6 months pregnant, pregnant women generally find it increasingly difficult to sleep even to insomnia.

The feeling of anxiety that you feel sometimes results in frequent urination, heartburn, and pain in the legs. These various things can then become sleep disturbances at night.

Not only difficulty sleeping, some changes that occur when a woman is 6 months pregnant, namely:

The position of the navel is getting wider and more prominent
Frequent tingling
Appear stretch marks which makes the skin feel itchy
Prone to experiencing hemorrhoids and constipation
Heartburn
Leg cramps
Back pain

Quoting from the Kids Health page, at this gestational age many doctors recommend that pregnant women sleep on their left side.

This is so that blood flow to the placenta is not restricted. If you find this position uncomfortable, try placing a pillow under your knees to relieve pressure from your weight while lying on one side.

Things that need to be considered when consulting a doctor

When you are 6 months pregnant with a gestational age range of 23-27 weeks, symptoms of preeclampsia, weight gain, decreased appetite, and swollen hands and face can occur.

In addition, headaches without cause, abdominal pain and throat pain, itching and vision disorders, and false contractions can also be experienced by 6 months pregnant women.

If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor so as not to interfere with the development of the fetus in the womb.

However, if after examining himself the doctor states that the various problems experienced are still normal, there is no need to worry too much.

Tests that need to be known at 6 months pregnant

At 23-27 weeks of gestation, the doctor will check the following:

Measure body weight and blood pressure
Check urine for glucose and protein levels
Check fetal heart rate
Measure the size of the uterus with external palpation (external touch) to see how it correlates with the date of birth
Measure the height of the lower position (top of the uterus) or the height of the fundus
Check for swelling of the feet and hands
Check for varicose veins in the legs
Check for signs of false contractions
Checking the symptoms you are experiencing, especially symptoms that are not normal

Routine blood pressure checks are carried out every time you consult a doctor. The reason is, quoting from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure can trigger preeclampsia, eclampsia, and stroke in mothers.

Meanwhile, in children, it can cause low birth weight (LBW) and premature birth.

Not only high blood pressure, when pregnant women are 6 months pregnant, a glucose screening test is also important for pregnant women.

This test is generally started at 24-28 weeks of gestation. This blood sugar test can help your doctor diagnose whether you have gestational diabetes or not.

Tips for maintaining health during 6 months of pregnancy

In order to make it easier and more comfortable for the mother when she is 6 months pregnant, there are a number of things that must be considered to maintain the health of the mother and fetus, such as:

Straighten the leg during cramps

The bigger the stomach, the heavier the pressure on the legs so that leg cramps cannot be avoided. When a cramp occurs, make sure your legs are straight and bend your ankles inward.

This method will immediately reduce pain so that fetal development will not be interrupted.

Get plenty of rest when you're 6 months pregnant

To reduce pressure on your feet, keep your feet up as often as possible and rest between regular activities. Do not forget to bend your legs regularly to make it more comfortable when you are 6 months pregnant.

Routinely count fetal movements at 6 months of pregnancy

At 6 months pregnant it is very important to calculate fetal movements.

Pregnant women can check fetal movements once in the morning (when activity tends to be less frequent) and once at night when the fetus is more active.

Ask your doctor about counting your baby's movements to know for sure. Starting from the hours the baby is active, how many times the baby kicks or moves in the stomach.

Try to mark it with a count when the movement has reached 10, then see how long it takes.

Usually, it will feel 10 movements in 10 minutes or sometimes it will take more time. No need to worry, this is normal at 6 months of pregnancy, especially at 25 weeks of gestation.

If in 10 minutes there hasn't been 10 movements, drink some juice or eat something light, and walk a little.

You can also pat your stomach a little then lie down, relax, and go back to counting the movements. If two hours pass without 10 movements, call your doctor.

Pay attention to the food you eat

Foods such as sausages, bacon, and other processed meats sometimes contain bacteria and microorganisms that are harmful to the developing fetus. These bacteria can only be destroyed when cooked at high temperatures.

So while pregnant, it is better to eat raw food if only they have been thoroughly cooked.

In addition, when a woman is 6 months pregnant until delivery, she is prone to diseases that can interfere with fetal development. The reason is because during pregnancy the immune system will change.

In addition, bacteria or viruses in the mother's body can cross the placenta and attack the baby because the baby's immune system is not sufficient to fight disease.

Watch for a tingling feeling in your fingers

If you feel numbness, tingling or tension in your fingers during pregnancy, you may experience symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This condition is more often felt at night.

Pressing on the sore hand makes the problem worse, so try to rest your head on the pillow at bedtime.

When your finger starts to feel numb, try to shake your hand to reduce the sensation. If this is ineffective and the numbness prevents sleep, please discuss it with your doctor.

It is permissible to take stomach acid medicine if needed

If a pregnant woman has an ulcer, you can take stomach acid medicine. You can take acid reflux drugs as long as you don't use excessive doses. Use as stated on the label or doctor's instructions.

If you take too much stomach acid medicine, it is feared that it can cause constipation in pregnant women.